What You Need to Know about Solving Roach Infestations

Cockroaches can enter your home in many different ways and quickly wreak havoc on your home. The sight of a roach crawling on a kitchen counter is enough to send a homeowner into panic. When you have a cockroach infestation, you want to get rid of them fast. Implementing an effective pest control program as soon as you notice the signs of infestation is key. Here is what you should know about roaches:

Cockroaches can enter your home through outside cracks and crevices, be carried in on grocery bags, and even hitch a ride in on you or your pets.

Your home offers the ideal breeding ground for most species of roaches by offering plenty of food, water, warmth, and perfect nesting sites.

A female roach can produce up to 400 offspring within their short life span, which means infestations can get out of control quickly.

The dust created by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies, and feces can aggravate allergies and asthma, especially in children.

Cockroaches carry E-coli and salmonella on their bodies which can expose your family members to illnesses such as food poisoning and typhoid.

Certain species of cockroaches have been found to bite humans. These cases are rare, but if you have a heavy infestation with these insects you should be wary.

Cockroaches not only invade your home but also your body parts. There are several cases of cockroaches entering the ear and nose while you are in a deep sleep.

The most effective pest control programs for roaches involve special equipment, materials, and know-how.

Signs of a Cockroach Problem in Your Home

There are many signs that you have a cockroach infestation in your home. Physically seeing a roach is the obvious first sign. Roaches are nocturnal insects so you will typically encounter them at night scattering after you enter a room and turn on a light. If you spot roaches during the daytime, it most likely means you have a serious infestation on your hands that requires immediate action. You may also spot dead roaches. This is not necessarily a sign that your roach infestation has ended. More likely it is a sign that you have an ongoing problem that needs professional pest control help. Spotting roach feces, egg cases, or even smelling roaches are additional signs that you have a pest control problem that requires immediate attention. Roaches are aggressive breeders so if you are finding egg cases, or smelling a strong pungent and musty odor the situation has most likely been going on for a while.

How to Eliminate Cockroaches

When considering what pest control method to use, enlisting the help of a professional can provide better results in your cockroach infestation. There are many pest control methods that can be utilized based on the type and severity of your infestation. Some of these roach killing methods include:

Roach Glue Strips: This is a great way to locate large infestations. Place in popular roach hiding spots including behind the fridge, under the sink, crevices in cabinets and shelves, closet door corners, and bathroom cabinets.

Gel Bait: Gel bait comes in the form of a tube and is applied under baseboards, in cracks and crevices, and near areas that are most likely to attract roaches. While this is an effective roach killer, it can also result in a number of dead roaches lying around your home.

Roach Hotels: This bait station is a popular pest control method for cockroaches. Roach hotels work by attracting roaches into stations to feed on poison. Then the roach travels back to its home location, dies, and is eaten by other roaches. This passes the poison along further. Bait stations work up to a certain extent. They do pose a few issues in that they don’t target all the cockroaches in the home. Since they contain poison, it is best to use caution placing these in your home if you have children or pets.

Caulk Gaps: Traps can be effective in reducing existing roach populations, but they won’t solve the problem of roaches trying to enter your home. To prevent your roach pest control problem from expanding, use caulk to fill any possible entry points. This includes gaps between walls or tiles, small crevices, and entry holes. Using weather stripping on doors and window seals will also help to keep roaches from entering your home.

Enlist the Help of a Professional Pest Control Company

Keeping your home roach-free is often a multi-step approach. Since a roach problem can quickly escalate and cause serious problems within the home, enlisting the help of a professional pest control company can quickly and efficiently solve the problem before things get too out of hand. Your local pest control professionals have access to the best roach killing materials, and are extensively trained on how to safely solve your infestation problem. This is important, since most methods of roach extermination require the use of poisons or other materials that can be potentially harmful to your family or pets if used incorrectly.

If you think you have a roach infestation call OPC Pest Control at 518-877-6425 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation.